AN AUTHOR EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT GENRES OF FICTION

Chirdeep Malhotra . Updated: 1/22/2019 12:37:27 PM Books and Authors

Author Interview: Gautam Choudhury

Gautam Choudhury has done his post-graduation in Management, and works as a consultant and business analyst in a leading IT firm. He has spent his childhood at different places across the North-East, and is an avid reader and book lover. He has authored the book “Rafflesia: The Banished Princess”. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he talks about his book, his writing journey, his favourite books and authors, and much more.

Please tell us more about Gautam Choudhury as a person.
A very regular person, one among the crowd. When I look back, I think being born and brought up in one of the most beautiful parts of the country was a blessing. I grew up amidst the lap of nature and used to think the world outside would be just the same till the time I really forayed outside. My job took me to different parts of the world, and I kept filling my kitty of experiences and realizations. New people, new places – I enjoyed them all. And now I have a bagful. They threaten to spill out occasionally, and I have to resort to the keyboard. Nothing more, really.

Being a business analyst by profession, you have forayed into writing fiction. Can you tell us more about your writing journey?
I have heard a lot of people say that IT people gravitate more towards writing at some point in their life. I don’t entirely agree with this. Writing is something which comes naturally. Just like singing or painting. Some people cultivate the habit over time, some I guess are born with the skill. I belong to the former. I don’t know exactly when I started writing. It must have been a long time back. Getting published was a struggle. I was an absolute novice in the publishing industry. But I learned a lot during the process. And would hopefully employ them in some manner when I publish my next.

Can you tell us more about your book “Rafflesia: The banished princess”?
It is straight off the hook. People have asked me why I chose to write something like Rafflesia for my debut. What I couldn’t tell them was it was the effort of years of writing. I wasn’t serious about publishing because I never thought of choosing writing as a parallel career or activity. The book just happened. I am not sure if I should have debuted with something more conventional. But there are no regrets. Once I decided to publish, I went ahead. I did not have access to the best of resources and support, so the book suffered in some ways. Many publishers whom I approached wanted me to change the story. Publishing is commercial, just like any other business. And Rafflesia was light years away from mainstream fiction.

How has the response of the readers been to your book?
It ranged from ‘wow’ to ‘yuck’. Most liked it. A few did not. I have great respect for readers who have spent time reading a lengthy book from a newcomer. What amazed me was the diverse reactions. When you write, you write with your own perspective, but when people read it, perspectives change. This just reminds me that humans are so different from one another.

What do you think is the current literary scenario in Indian English fiction and on what themes should contemporary authors write more about?
There is a market for all kind of books. I can’t say what authors should write about – it’s all about personal choices. I think there has always been a readership for books in India. And the onset of digital publishing has multiplied it.

What are your favourite books? Can you share with our esteemed readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?
Favorites have changed over time. As a child, you like reading certain types of books, and certain authors. As you grow up, you read more and start experimenting. I remember attempting to read Maxim Gorky’s ‘Mother’ when I was in the 7th standard. I did not understand anything and put it away. I enjoyed reading it when I was in college. The first book that truly touched me in a very different way was ‘By the shores of Silver Lake’ by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I don’t know what was in it but I remember reading it many times over during my growing years. Jane Austen is a perennial favorite. So are Sidney Sheldon and Robin Cook. I also like reading in Hindi.

What are your other interests apart from writing?
These days, it is just writing. I used to travel a lot. I have mellowed down with time I guess.

Are there any other literary projects in the pipeline?
Yes. It is tentatively titled ‘When Jai Met Pia.’ It is actually beyond my comfort zone - what I am attempting to write. Putting myself in the shoes of an eighteen-year-old and churning out a romance is not easy. But I want to touch different genres. Writing is all about variety. I am not very fond of the idea of writing on any particular theme all the time. But then, that’s how people identify you. Romance writer, fantasy writer and so on. Those who are not constrained by genres and yet manage to be successful are really lucky. Given a choice, I think every author would like to experiment. I experimented with my very first. I deserve to tread into safer zones for a while now, don’t I?

There are many new writers and poets who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?
I don’t have anything to say. I am not qualified to advise anyone. Marketing is important. It is a necessary evil. It may not be evil actually. Depends on how you look at it. I am trying to enjoy it. Also, contrary to popular belief, getting published is not that big a challenge as it is made out to be. In today's time, there are many opportunities. You just have to look around and believe in yourself.

Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?
It is “Nothing is constant but change. Life becomes easy if we accept it instead of fighting it”.


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